TURKISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF ÖZKÖK: “WE SOPPORT A JUST AND  PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT OF CYPRUS PROBLEM”

Turkish Chief of General Staff  Full-General  Hilmi Özkök, in his annual evaluation speech made at the Turkish  Staff Officers’ Commandership on 20 April 2005  evaluated the Turkish-Greek relations and  the Cyprus issue.

Full-General Hilmi Özkök stressing that the Turkish Military Forces has always supported  a  permanent and just  settlement of the Cyprus issue said  “on this issue the Turkish  Republic’s state and  especially the TRNC did their responsibilities.”

Full-General Özkök pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side’s aim was clear, said refraining from serious commitment, they  want to set a side the Cyprus issue, keep it  unsolved, destroy the parameters of   a just and  permanent settlement by using Turkey’s EU negotiation process, force Turkey to give one sided compromises,  patch the Turkish Cypriots into a Greek Cypriot Republic and by making the TRNC ineffective to take control of whole of the island.

Full-general Özkök reminding that two results can be drawn from  the 24 April  2004 referendum, said  “now, no one can show either Turkey or TRNC as the  source of a nonsettlement in the Cyprus issue. There are politically equal two peoples on the island who do not  represent each other.” Full-General Hilmi Özkök stated that at a time when the promises given  for lifting the isolation on the island   were left to be forgotten, it was a big injustice to expect Turkey to  make  any gesture.

Hilmi Özkök  added “it is out of question, that Turkey will recognize the  Greek Cypriot administration in south as the only representative of the island. Turkey can recognize  an  order in Cyprus,  which will not be the continuation of the 1960 Cyprus Republic, but  will emerge as the result of a negotiations between  two political equals. This new  order  does not eliminate Turkey’s rights stemming from Treaty of  Guarantee and Alliance.”

  

GOODS PRODUCED IN SOUTH CYPRUS TO BE IMPORTED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

TRNC  Council of Ministers, prepared and put into force a regulation on trade  from south Cyprus to TRNC, similar to   that of a Green Line Regulation  which regulates trade  from TRNC to south Cyprus.

According to the regulation, which was put into force  after being published in the Official Gazette on 19 April 2005,  products that are  fully produced and completed in South Cyprus,  can enter the TRNC with a certificate of  origin issued by Greek Cypriot  Chamber of Industry and  Commerce.  In the import of agricultural products  international health certificate will be asked.